| Okay, let's have some short but sweet tips on | | | | the police or you before the bike disappears. |
| bike security. | | | | Don't use cheap chains or chain/lock combo |
| Number one: if you don't lock it to something solid | | | | devices. Be aware of your neighborhood and be |
| and relatively impenetrable, it's likely to walk away. | | | | prepared your bike if you get a weird vibe. |
| Lock your bike to street lamps, street signs, | | | | Along with bike security is the safety and security |
| parking meters, bike racks...anything that makes it | | | | of stuff on your bike. Lessons here are that 'out |
| awkward or impossible to physically carry the bike | | | | of sight' tends to be out of mind. If you can |
| off. | | | | cover something in your baskets that has some |
| Don't depend on the kindness of strangers when | | | | value, then it's less likely to get eyeballed before |
| it comes to bike security. 99% of the time, no | | | | being taken. |
| one will touch your bike. It's that 1% you've got | | | | Sadly, there's not a lot you can do about |
| to take measures for. | | | | equipment like lights, pumps, water bottles, seats |
| If you park your bike in visible areas with traffic, | | | | and stuff. You can take some precautions, like |
| it's less likely someone is going to pull out tools | | | | using an Allen wrench seat collar, that might slow |
| and go to work on your bike. | | | | someone down a bit. If you lock things down too |
| The more valuable your bike is, the more likely to | | | | much, it will become a nuisance when you try to |
| be stolen. Conversely, the junkier your bike is the | | | | use it. |
| less likely it is to get taken. So, make your cool, | | | | Many lights pop off fairly easily, so there's a bit of |
| nice bike look like junk, ride junk, or just lock | | | | protection. |
| things up really well. | | | | You can also use locking wheel skewers that act |
| Buy dependable locks from major manufacturers. | | | | to prevent theft of your wings. |
| Avoid like the plague some knockoff lock from | | | | Best strategy: use a combination of the above |
| the flea market. U-locks are the gold standard for | | | | techniques. Ride a nice bike that looks a bit rough |
| bikes. While there are other types of locks, the | | | | and tumble, avoid dark areas with no foot traffic |
| U-lock has a good combination of difficulty and | | | | to park your bike, use a strong, well-built lock, and |
| strength to prevent theft. | | | | cover your stuff if you plan to leave it on your |
| You will not prevent someone from stealing your | | | | bike, like groceries in your pannier, or something |
| bike with the proper tools. An angle cutter or zip | | | | on your rack. |
| cutter will make short work of the most | | | | And finally, learn the proper way to lock your bike |
| hardened bike lock. It will also make a heck of a | | | | with a U-lock...through the frame and wheel rim |
| noise during cutting. Your only option in this | | | | and a stationary pole. |
| scenario is to hope someone notices and informs | | | | |